Uniforms Detrimental To A Healthy School Environment

School Uniforms are being pushed more and more in schools, but what is commonly thought of when the words “school uniform” is said? For most people the picture of children in the same colored uniforms gathered in front of a Catholic Church or a private school is displayed in their mind. This picture is one of the many problems with school uniforms. Instead of being seen as an individual, students are seen as just another kid in a uniform attending a fancy private school. The students cannot develop the self-expression that is crucial to their development at this age. Uniforms are thought to create a more protected campus and learning environment, however, if someone wants to bully someone else, clothes are not going to stop them. The cost, which is usually seen as a pro, can actually be more than people anticipate. As one can see, in the best interest of any student, school uniforms should not be made part of the dress code.

Throughout California, high school students are faced with the daily challenge of figuring out what they will wear to school the following day. As simple as this may sound, it does produce a lot of anxiety and stress among teenagers. Some students stress over the fact that they have a limited wardrobe, while others worry about being judged by their peers for their fashion choices. The problem of students having too much stress has the potential of becoming a serious health problem among high school students. It is understood that students should have some level of stress as it is a natural part of life. However, too much stress is bad for one’s health and can impact a student’s ability to focus on learning. School districts have studied the stress levels of students and have attempted to make changes to reduce student stress levels. One solution to address this problem has been to require students to wear uniforms. School uniforms eliminate students stress because everyone wears the same outfit and there is no differentiation among students. Uniforms allow students to focus on their school work. In 2011, a survey showed that 44% of guardians saw that their child was more focused on school after the implementation of school uniforms (Lalwani, “Facts About School Uniforms”).

Uniforms have been used for centuries for things like sports, military affairs, and to help identify someone that is affiliated with a group or an organization. One place they should not be used is in public schools. In this day in age uniforms are still being argued and could still appear is school around the country causing problems. When I was in middle school I had uniforms for about four years and it made me hate school even more. None of the benefits that administration said we would get from uniforms ever materialized. They said it would put an end to bullying and we would still have some kind of freedom when it came to picking accessories. The uniforms were costly for my parents and as a student it made it hard for me to express myself. With that being said middle school students should not be required to wear school uniforms.

Whether or not to introduce the policy of uniforms in public schools can be very controversial as there are many factors in which uniforms can benefit or cause harm. There are many evidences present in "Do School Uniforms Make Schools Better?" by Marian Wilde and is present in the graphic entitled "Do School Uniforms Make Kids More or Less Competitive About Clothing." Undoubtedly, requiring students to wear uniforms will only violate a student's freedom of expression and is not linked to academic achievement whatsoever.

School uniforms and dress codes are becoming a popular trend among schools. Most Students and some parents don’t agree with the enforcement with school uniforms, saying that uniforms are taking away self-expression in schools. But, school uniforms are not a negative thing to have. Yes, uniforms and some very strict dress codes limit what the students have to choose to wear to school every day, but it doesn’t limit them from learning which is the main reason they are in school. Some students treat school as a fashion show, so eliminating the size of wardrobe shifts the attention toward their school work. Although requiring students to wear school uniforms may violate their self-expression in some ways, a uniform is supposed to be looked

Nowadays, we see many teenagers dress in spaghetti-strap tank tops, low-cut shirts, drop pants, pajamas, and even spandex shorts in school even though there have been policies about dress codes. Teachers, parents, and other adults feel disgruntled about the way they dress. Many students also complain about difficulties in concentrating on schoolwork because of the same reason. Obviously, what students wear to school has become a very distracting issue in the school environment. Therefore, school uniforms should be required in public schools due to many reasons.

While in a perfect world many educators say that school uniforms are an asset but I have to say school uniforms are detrimental to the students. School uniforms are a financial hardship on low-income families, make students a target for bullying, infringe on a students’ freedom of expression rights and they teach students a negative lesson about conformity.

Requiring high school students to wear uniform, creates a “level playing field,” reducing the visibility of socioeconomic disparities simply through the clothes being worn to school. High school is a pivotal age where identity is being formed and simple things such as not having the newest clothes, or most stylish shoes in time could alter an individuals confidence. With putting a uniform policy in place, those from a lower socio-economic status are less likely to feel insecure among those from a higher socio-economic background. Generally, families with a lower income that are unable to afford the most up to date styles benefit from uniform. Certainly, it is mendacious that through the implementation of school uniform that students won’t distinguish themselves based on income. However, in many instances, the enforcement of wearing the same no name brand clothing greatly reduces competition between peers that may be in place.

School uniforms are school approved wardrobes that dictate what students wear to school. In today’s society, school systems’ deciding to implement uniforms has become a controversial issue among students, parents, and teachers. The use of uniforms by a school system is often an effort in branding and developing a unified image, but also has substantial effects on the students that are wearing uniforms. Some people believe that clothing is an expression of a person, while others believe that clothing can be a distraction. Implementing school uniforms has a variety of advantages and disadvantages, but school uniforms do not solve all problems within a school system.

School uniforms also serve little to no purpose in benefiting the education of children around America. A uniform does not help a student learn things that they need to know. A uniform does not help a student study, take notes, or make flash cards. They bring no educational value to the table of learning. According to many educators and experts, “Uniforms do not improve academics, behavioral and social outcomes, or reduce discrimination or crime” (Farrell). So if a uniform cannot help a student increase their knowledge or grow as a person, why make students wear them?

It is a belief that school uniforms teach students to respect their learning environment and behave themselves, and, therefore improving discipline. However, that assumption isn’t entirely correct. Researchers have actually found that school uniforms don’t make students better behaved. According to a study of more than 4,500 students, those who wore a school uniform did not have fewer behavior problems or better attendance. Forcing students to wear uniforms lead to more problems and misbehavior instead of encouraging discipline. Students could get into trouble if they did not wear their uniforms correctly. Many kids in today’s society cannot stand the thought of someone telling them what to do, especially what to wear. Instead of encouraging respect, uniforms may cause rebellions. For example, in 2009, a group of students at John A. Ferguson Senior High School rebelled against their school uniforms. Instead of following their school uniform requirements, the students wore what they thought would be a better school uniform to school. Not only uniforms don’t earn schools the respect from its students, but it may also lead to more problems.

Several public-school systems across the country have instituted school uniforms for various reasons. The most common being to improve overall school performance and to reduce negative behavior. Standardized school clothing has become a heated national debate with experts, educators, and community members taking stands on both sides of the dispute. The commonly cited advantages of uniforms are increased academic performance, reduced behavioral problems, increased social harmony, and reduced costs of clothing students. Commonly cited cons of school uniforms include a reduced amount of opportunities for self-expression, a reduced sense of individuality, possible increased costs in clothing and possible reduced comfort. Many educators and experts believe that, although in theory uniforms should improve academic, behavioral and social outcomes they do not.

Opponents think that when children select their own clothing, they can develop confidence and independence, vital characteristics through the personality development and adult success. Controlling extremely the socialization process of students will harm them as an adult, because they will not be prepared for the real world, indeed by their appearances. In addition, opponents argue that when students are limited about what they are going to wear, they will find other ways to offend the authority. Without a way out of expression in their clothes, they will turn out to other inappropriate alternatives of self-expression, such as nontraditional hair styles or make-up, or the worst revolting against school authorities and parents by the way they behave and act. It is obvious that children, especially those in middle and high school, are constantly concerned about their appearance that way, wearing a school uniform will minimize this concern. They also believe schools can help students avoid clothing that contains slogans, short or tight clothing; while giving them

School uniforms help maintain a sense of equality amongst the students. They help rid any socioeconomic barriers that may be causing certain students, or groups of students, to be alienated from the rest of the student body (Wilde). In other words, the financial status of a student’s parents no longer matters. Parents “are no longer pressured to buy the latest fashions, and they spend less on their children's clothing” (Isaacson). They no longer feel obligated to keep their children up to date with the latest fashion trends. Due to this, students are less prone to form cliques, which only lead to the alienation of students ("School Uniforms.") At the same time, students no longer feel inferior or superior to other students. No longer do students respect each other on the basis of how stylish they look. Their clothes do not gauge how popular they are in the school. Instead, uniforms force people to look at each

Uniforms in schools are a big debate around the world. Should we have uniforms in schools? The answer is yes because uniform help the schools. They bring to table a great deal of help because students are getting bullied, killed, and some may not have as much as other when shopping for clothes. Having uniforms bring safety to schools and what goes on after school.